The ABYSS of the Past

Purpose of this Blog:

In two words: “Lessons learned”

From 1986 to 2002 my wife, Linda, and I worked on contract with SIL International and the Peruvian Ministry of Education. Our non-profit task was to foment literacy projects using Quechua in print, both in the communities and schools within the Conchucos Valley, Región Chavín /Ancash, Perú. During this time our two boys, Greg and Tim were born and reared on these arid, high alpine farmfield hillsides between 10-12,000 feet in elevation.

The experiences, crises, sicknesses, and trauma we experienced left indelible impressions on our characters, both positive and negative. I blame no one for what transpired, although I shall probably continue wondering and carrying unanswered questions with me. Program success was remarkable: 130 public Quechua school teachers and 200 catechists were empowered as literacy leaders resulting in over 130,000 young men and women becoming literate, both in Quechua and in Spanish. Finally, before returning to Canada in 2002, a translation of the New Testament was published and distributed to interfaith community leaders.

I begin this blog 13 years later, after much “water under the bridge.” Why so much time was needed to distance myself in order to reflect? I simply cannot answer. Career reassessment and financial hardship over the last decade forced us to seek other paths in order to survive in Calgary, a city of great upheaval largely due to inflation and international oil-and- gas speculations. Previously we were “lifers”—wholly committed to international literacy-development and translation. I still yearn for this past and frankly wish to be purged from it—too much politics manipulating well-intentioned support groups and individuals.  Still, stories need to be told/ lessons learned. Here we go!